Winterly springlike moodboard

My mind is currently somewhere between winter and spring and I can't really decide which one I'd like more. Actually, it's still supposed to be winter here in Germany (and I wouldn't mind to go skiing again) but there have been some pretty nice days last week and the weather is very mild. So no wonder I'm getting springvibes and am already looking out for some "springspiration"...

So this moodboard combines some leftovers of the cool winterly colors mixed up with some colorful spring tones that are soon to come. There is soft and cosy wool in contrast to fine floating materials. There is healthy comfort food in contrast to nature on the first springlike days. And everything is underlined by one of my current favorite songs.

COLOR GRADIENT YARN 
This yarn shows the play with cool and warm colors as I described before. It should be great for a spring garment or a light shawl and you need only one ball for one garment

CARROT BANANA BREAKFAST BAKES

I've been wanting to try out new breakfast ideas for a while. I mostly grab breakfast on the go and was looking for some healthy options. I made this as muffins and quite like them so far (still trying).

ONLINE YARNS LINIE 4 in petrol
I'm using this wool for a current knitting project. It's going to be a really nice sweater and I suppose it's not only for winter but also for cool spring days and I really love this color.

A SUNNY WALK
I took this walk last week where I got to enjoy a lot of sun even though it's only January. This picture was taken just near my neighborhood, but somehow it looks a bit Mediterranean and reminds me of last spring's trip to Mallorca.

COLORFUL BALL GOWNS
I've seen these dresses on TV at the Semperopernball worn by 90 girls (and boys in dark suites) dancing. It looked amazing and those fresh colors just inspired me. They look so flowery and playful and yet so classic.

TULIPS DECORATION
Perfectly matching with the dresses, I love this tulip decoration. Tulips are happy flowers for me and they come in so many colors. I might try this decoration in spring (taking them out of the soil and putting them into water like described here).

FIRST AID KIT - HARD BELIEVER
I recently discovered their first album for myself (as I got it for Christmas) and have to say I quite like it. This song just expresses some feelings I've got inside me these days.
(It's the link for the German Amazon download so just google it if you're from somewhere else.)

So I hope you like my very first moodboard - it was about time since I've had all these things in my mind. What about you? Do you know this feeling somewhere in between winter and spring? Do you like this time of the year?
Love, Kerstine.

My personal Starbucks challenge

Hey everyone, nice to be out here again. It’s been a while, I know. Lots of things going on in my life and somehow I just couldn’t find the time and right mood to write a new post for a while and before I knew it several months had passed. But I’m back now, and we’ll see where my life and the blog will take me in times to come. I think I’ll tend to do some more lifestyle posts as you see right here…

I’ve been into a more ecological lifestyle lately. Not that I haven’t cared at all in the past (if you consider things like waste separation and reusable bags for grocery shopping for example) but that’s been on a relatively low level. Some months ago I started to act a bit more towards this direction using even less plastic bags by actively refusing them when shopping for stuff like clothes and bits'n'pieces and I always keep a textile bag in my handbag. Plus I take the train to work more often now. I know it’s not much but it’s at least something.

Now, when it comes to coffee or tea in the mornings I have several thermo mugs at home and usually use them to bring my own tea or coffee on the train (or in the car). However I quite like to get coffee somewhere else too because I like to get a different taste or I’m just out and about in the afternoons or weekends. So I find myself stopping by at Starbucks quite often as it is a great treat at all times of the day (plus it's fairtrade coffee). But getting my coffee in throw-away paper cups has been bugging me lately. Thinking towards acting more ecologically I don’t want this anymore.

So, looking at my small collection of thermo mugs at home I realized that they’re all too small for a size tall coffee at Starbucks which is 12 oz (355 ml). So I had to get a new mug – and which place would be better than where I usually get my coffee? So I went to my local Starbucks and they luckily had quite a selection there. I chose a nice tumbler from their German christmas collection. The red color is totally my thing and I wanted it to be stainless steel because I think it’s prettier and more durable than the acrylic ones.

Picture Source

It wasn’t until then that I knew that you even get a discount at Starbucks if you buy your coffee in a reusable mug. Did you know? I was pleasantly surprised because that’s even more reason to buy one. So I get 0,30 € off every time I buy coffee. Winner. Putting this against the price of my tumbler (17,95 €) it makes 60 coffees to drink for becoming a rewardable investment.

And this is where the CHALLENGE starts. I’ve decided to take a photo of my Starbucks coffee every time I get one in my mug because using it just makes me feel good. And sharing this challenge may cause other people to opt for a reusable mug too.  

I’m going to post my photos on my Instagram account and post a recap here on the blog from time to time. So feel free to follow me or even join in.

First use on the train

So, I already tested my mug and I’m thrilled. It keeps my drink hot for a long time (some hours), fits well into common car cup holders and into my messenger bag and it looks stylish. It would also make a great gift for anyone who likes coffee and Starbucks. Love it.

Do you use thermo mugs? Do you think we should take small steps towards living more ecologically?

Love, Kerstine.

*This post is not sponsored or supported by Starbucks in any way and the opinion given here is completely my own.

Project #18: Small Crochet Basket

As you have probably seen in my previous post, I made a little basket to hold some of the bits'n'pieces I need on my desk. I don't like having too much stuff lying around on my desk and this basket helps me keep the small things together.

It is made after a really easy pattern. I used a super bulky yarn in colours matching our living room and the rest of my desk. The whole basket is made with double crochets. The base is crocheted in rounds increasing until I thought it's big enough. 

I followed (once again) the pattern from the book "Crochet with One Sheepish Girl" but made only the first 3 rounds for the bottom. Otherwise it would have become too big. 

The sides are made from 3 rounds of double crochet (changing colour inbetween) and ended with a round of back post single crochets. This finish is my own idea and makes the rim more stable.

I'm quite fond of crochet baskets and have already made few, e. g. this one. They are really handy. Have you ever made a crochet basket? What are you keeping in it?

Home Office Makover

Spending more time working at home during the last few months I became a bit dissatisfied by my desk situation. So far I used a secretary desk (or escritoire) which I thought was ok. But given the circumstances that I'm writing my phd thesis and the most intense phase just began, I now have to work at home more. Since I spread lots of books and dokuments while working, the seretary surface turned out way too small for REALLY working. 

It took us quite a while to figure out a good solution as our flat is quite small and there is only a tiny space in the living room for squeezing in a desk. So we put in this dark tabletop you see in the photo. 

In small spaces you have to see that there is as little stuff as possible on your desk. So we hung up my computer screen on the wall and installed a shelf for my laptop above. There is room for notes on the pinboard or under my clear writing pad. Books and bigger things can be kept in the shelf under the desk. However it was still a very small desk and probably not big enough for spreading all my stuff while working but we didn't want to change the furniture in our living room.

So my husband came up with the great idea to build a variable tabletop inside the cabinet on the right. The doors on the outside remained and he added a wooden panel from the inside. The doors are now linked and can't be opened the usual way but have to be folded out. You can see the result in the next photo. This way I've got a lot of desk space for spreading all my working stuff. When I'm done for the day I just fold it back up and it looks like an ordinary cabinet (with just the slit in the door but I don't mind). Isn't it fantastic?

Of course I had to add some nice little decorative things to make myself feel even more comfortable when sitting at my desk. I put some photos of my family and friends onto the walls because I like having them around. 

My pinboard became nicer by sticking washi tape all over its wooden frame and adding some pompom pushpins (see onesheepishgirl.com). 

I made a little crochet basket to hold the little bit'sn'pieces I essentially need on my desk which is going to be in the next post. And one last thing I just had to do is pimping the handles of the cupboard hanging above my desk (just didn't like them). A super bulky yarn and a simple crochet stitch around them did the trick. 

So, how do you like the ideas of my home office makover? Any more ideas for small office spaces? Love, Kerstine.